What is discipleship and why does it matter?
Discipleship is integral to humankind’s first command by our Creator: Be fruitful and multiply. As trees bring forth fruit and bear many times more seeds for new trees, we were to do the same. As we read the entirety of the Word of YHWH, our Elohim, this is understood in both the spiritual and physical sense. We are to bear good fruit and help each other do the same.
According to etymology online, a disciple is “one who follows or is influenced by the doctrine or example of another.” If this is the case, we may have more disciples than we realize, so we need to be aware and intentional in our work as disciplers.
He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:3 (NASB 20)
For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream, and does not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit.
Jeremiah 17:8 (NASB 20)
θεραπεία therapeia
θεραπεύω therapeuō
θεράπων therapōn
תְּרוּפָה terufa
רָפָא rafa
מַרְפֵּא marpay
service, healing, curing, household attendants (noun)
serve, cure, heal, restore (verb)
attendant, servant
(noun)
healing (noun)
to heal, make healthful (verb)
health, healing, cure (noun)
And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing (therapeia) of the nations.
Revelation 22:1-2 (NASB 20)
Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal (therapeuo) diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.
Luke 9:1-2 (NASB 20)
Moses was certainly faithful in God's house as a servant (therapon). His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later.
Hebrews 3:5 (NLT)
And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing (terufah).
Ezekiel 47:12 (NASB 20)
They have healed (rafa) the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, 'Peace, peace,' but there is no peace.
Jeremiah 6:14 (NASB 20)
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician (rafa) there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?
Jeremiah 8:22 (NASB 20)
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. They are not to escape from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing (marpay) to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:20-23 (NASB 20)
There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (marpay).
Proverbs 12:18 (NASB 20)
And the Lord replied, "A faithful, sensible servant (overseer, steward) is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants (therapeia) and feeding them.
Luke 12:42 (NLT)
Jesus said a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" and said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus replied, "Feed my sheep.
John 21:17 (NET)
My son, do not forget my teaching, but have your heart comply with my commandments; ...Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing (rifooth, related to rafa) to your body and refreshment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:1, 7-8 (NASB 20)
"I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. ...This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. ...You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
John 15:1-10, 12-14, 16 (NLT)
"Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me." Yes, but remember--those branches were broken off because they didn't believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either. ...And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.
Romans 11:19-21, 23-24 (NLT)
In reviewing all of this scripture, then, let us remember that growing, correcting behavior, and developing fruit is commanded and a natural progression of our walk with our Messiah. That fruit, in turn, will feed and heal others who can better bear fruit themselves. This, too, is expected of us…if we love Him. We can be as a forest that finds their strength in the whole, where all trees contribute to the strength and wholeness of each other. And simultaneously, we must never be divided from or lose sight of the source of our strength, Yeshua, our Messiah and King, the “bread” of life that feeds us all.
He heals (rafa) the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 (NLT)
Who pardons all your guilt, Who heals (rafa) all your diseases.
Psalm 103:3 (NASB 20)
And He said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer (rafa)."
Exodus 15:26 (NASB 20)
And this was the answer of Jesus: I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be in need of food, and he who has faith in me will never be in need of drink.
John 6:35 (BBE)